Parent Meeting for Third Grade Play, Thursday, January 22, 3:10, Room 21

We'll have a brief meeting with Mr. Nelson to discuss parent support for the Third Grade Play on Thursday, January 22 at 3:10pm.
Some ways to support third graders:

•       Rehearse lines with kids 
•       Set up and take down the evening of the show
•       Put together the program
•       Help with getting costumes on and off during the show

We'll have sign up sheets and answer questions.

Performance date for the show is:

Wednesday, March 11.  The Day performance is at 9:30am and the Evening performance is at 6:30pm.

A couple requests from Room 21

Hi All,
We are in the second half of our week and we have been busy in the new year!  What a great group of students you have given me.  Thanks so much.
Two things we talked about yesterday:
1.  I would like kids to bring in an empty t.p. roll.  We are going to make time capsules, like the one we saw at City Hall, and "bury" them until June.  I would like to have this by the end of the week so...
2.  This year I am instituting a "no candy" valentine sharing.  We will have a party with a sweet treat (and a healthy alternative!!) and lots of fun.  But, in recent years, it seems to be, increasingly,  more about the candy than the sentiment of honoring friendship and love.  We have talked about this as a class and we are in agreement.  Thanks for your cooperation.
I've heard from a few of you, and, yes, it has been a long while since you have gotten a report card. Like, not yet, in fact!  Expect one at the beginning of February.  We had our conferences in October and that stood in place of the first report card. Perhaps that policy will change next year?
On Friday, I'm sending home two math assessments and a literacy one for you to go over with your students.  The geometry unit has a lot of new vocabulary and we will continue to integrate new words into our thinking and speaking.  Overall, this is a strong group of students and I am proud to be their teacher.
Much love and hope for a peaceful, prosperous New Year,
Valerie McKenzie

Happy New Year

Perhaps Third Graders could do a few of these activities in the last few days before we return to school!
Valerie

Below is a list of art ideas and drawing activities for
students to complete over break; one for each day of
winter break.
(Feel free to modify the activities for younger students)
If your student completes and brings ALL of them to
Room 7 (art room) on the first day back from break,
they will be entered into a contest for prizes!!
Have fun, stay creative, and happy drawing!!
-Mrs. Duncan-
Art Teacher, Laurelhurst School
December 20th - Draw things that float. See how many you can draw on one sheet of paper.
December 21st - Create your own game board on a piece of paper. Bonus points for creating a
set of rules and pieces to use, so you can actually play the game.
December 22nd - Draw the most beautiful day you can imagine and use only three colors.
December 23rd - Draw life from a flyʼs point of view.
December 24th - Draw a picture of your dream bedroom.
December 25th - Draw someone who is generous to you. Describe why.
December 26th - Draw a picture of your favorite cartoon figure (NO TRACING!)
December 27th - Draw a picture of your favorite part of school.
December 28th - Draw a picture of your favorite toy.
December 29th - Draw a picture of the view from your house.
December 30th - Spill all of your crayons/markers/pencils on the table and draw what it looks like
(but donʼt forget to clean up the mess!!)
December 31st - Draw what “crackle,” “jingle,” and “vroom” look like.
January 1st - Draw one thing you hope will happen in the New Year.
January 2nd - Draw a really tall, fantastic cake. Yum!
January 3rd - Draw something yummy youʼve eaten over break. Donʼt forget to use color!
January 4th - Draw a picture of the first thing you want to do when summer comes.

Field Trip Tomorrow -Friday from 12:00-3:00

Tomorrow we head downtown to visit City Hall and The Multnomah County Library.  We will have lunch in the classroom and leave as soon as we finish.  If you are a volunteer, please arrive a little before 12:00.  Kids should wear layers, in case the weather changes, and comfortable shoes.  I'm excited to see the city lit up for the winter holidays.
Please remind them that we are taking MAX downtown and they will need to stay in their groups.  There will be a lot of people downtown and I always want to get back to school with the same number of kids I left with!
Thanks,
Valerie McKenzie

Portland Field Trip

Field Trip December 12, 2014, 12:00-3:00!!

We’ll head downtown to take in the winter sights.

At Portland’s City Hall we’ll look at the art work, look for the time capsule and admire the restoration of this historic building.  We’ll also get a great view of Portlandia, the statue.  Moving along we’ll stop for a visit in Portland’s Living Room –Pioneer Courthouse Square.  There, we can see how the city celebrates the holidays with a Holiday Tree and a very large Menorah.  Finally we’ll visit the Multnomah County Central Library.

We’ll take the MAX train downtown and back.  I’m asking for a $2.00 donation from each child to cover the cost of the Tri-Met Class Pass AND 4-6 volunteers to make sure we stay together!!

Let me know if you can help.

Thanks,

Valerie McKenzie

No homework this week

Dear Families,
I won't be sending home any math sheets or graphs this week.  Many of you are traveling, visiting with family and simply, relaxing.  Enjoy this time together.  I know that most students will read a lot during the long weekend and you all know websites to visit for math fact practice.  A few kids will bring home their novel study so they can be ready for next week.  But that is enough to keep track of for everyone.
Know that I count all of you in my thank yous around the dinner table on Thursday!
Take Care and Enjoy,
Valerie McKenzie

News from Room 21

Dear Parents,
     It has been a crazy couple of weeks in Room 21.  Lots of colds and lots of days off.  We are spending the week getting back into a routine.  We have about a month before Winter Break and I want to get a lot done before then.
    Thanks to all of you for attending your student's conference.  I got to meet with every family and shared the successes and goals for the rest of the year.
    In class we are finishing and starting, finishing and starting.  We are finishing Personal Narratives in Writing Workshop and starting an Author's Study in Reading Workshop.  We just finished our Math unit on adding and subtracting larger numbers and are starting our Unit on Geometry.  We just wrapped up Hello World and Day of the Dead and are now discussing the history and traditions around Thanksgiving.
    When asked about the history of Thanksgiving, kids can identify the Mayflower but not where they landed.  They think it has something to do with a rock.  When asked if there are any controversies surrounding Thanksgiving they think that some people might rather have something other than turkey.  We are going to discover what a pilgrim was/is and if there are modern pilgrims.  We'll read some good books; Molly's Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen and How Many Days to America?  A Thanksgiving Story by Eve Bunting. and come to a conclusion together.   They are memorizing a thank you poem that uses American Sign Language. All good stuff.
    I would like to create a seasonal still life with students Thursday afternoon, from 1:30 to about 2:30.  It's soft pastel and can get a little messy.  If you can help, let me know.  I just need a few extra bodies in the room.
                              If you know of a parent who isn't receiving this blog, please let them know they can email me and I'll get then on the list.  
                                                                                Thanks for all your support.
                                                                                Valerie McKenzie
                                                                                 vmckenzie@pps.net